Kotzebue band receives superior rating

JAKE STOOPS

April 25, 2008 at 10:21AM AKST

For The Arctic Sounder

Kotzebue High School played host to more than 100 musicians from April 10-12, when students from Bethel, Dillingham, Nome, Togiak and Unalakleet came to town for the 2008 Region One Music Festival.

The festival, which is hosted on a yearly rotation between Kotzebue, Nome, Bethel and Dillingham, offered local music fans a rare opportunity to see the region’s finest perform.

Kotzebue music teacher Darlene Conright coordinated the event and received high praise from the visiting directors.

"It was an outstanding festival," said Dale Tumey, the director of the honor band.

"It was obvious that a lot of planning had gone into it and everything ran very smoothly."

"The kids really enjoyed themselves," said Mim McKay, the adjudicator for the choir and solo and ensemble and former teacher at Kotzebue Middle High School.

"I couldn’t believe all the hugs and thank yous I received from the students."

Roger Schmidt was the third director and worked with the mass band.

John Kagerer from the Horn Doctor in Anchorage assisted, and the Alaska Brass, an Air Force band based out of Elmendorf performed, worked with students and held an assembly for June Nelson Elementary on Friday.

The festival kicked off Thursday with the adjudication of the solo and ensemble. A concert was held Thursday evening, in which individual school performed, capped off by a rousing performance by the Alaska Brass.

On Friday and Saturday, the schools combined for mass group rehearsals and then performed together Saturday night.

The Alaska Brass closed out the event with an original rap song and finally the theme song from "Hawaii Five-0."

While schools did not compete against each other, the Kotzebue hand bells were among those to receive a superior rating.

Next year’s festival is scheduled for Bethel.

Jake Stoops is the activities director for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District.